US, Saudi Arabia move troops, weapons into Syria while NGO calls for Russia to stop arming regime

Russian Arms Flow Must Stop to Clear Way for Syrian Ceasefire
23 March, 2012 – Human Rights First – Brenda Bowser-Sode

Washington, DC – As the situation in Syria grows increasingly dire by the day, Human Rights First is urging the United States to redouble its efforts as part of The Friends of Syria Group to secure an international arms embargo that would limit the flow of weapons to all sides, a step that would support the ceasefire outlined in Joint UN-Arab League Envoy Kofi Annan’s plan. The group notes that this should include the United States discontinuing its own business with companies arming the Syrian regime, including the Russian-based arms dealer Rosoboronexport.

“In the face of Russia’s previous vetoes in the Security Council for such an arms embargo one thing remains clear, their state run arms company Rosoboronexport is the most significant enabler of Assad’s brutal crackdown. They have supplied him with the firepower and heavy weaponry needed to flatten cities and slaughter civilians,” said Human Rights First’s Sadia Hameed. “The U.S. should discontinue its own dealings with Rosoboronexport. The Treasury Department should also take immediate action to designate sanctions for Rosoboronexport and other companies providing material support for the commission of atrocities in Syria.”

While weapons pour into the regime unabated, today’s news reports from Syria indicate that opposition groups are running low on ammunition and are struggling to sustain themselves against Assad’s offensive attacks that have killed at least 8,000 people. The death toll rises each day. …more